Elementary teacher arrested in molestation case

CHULA VISTA – An elementary school teacher has been arrested on suspicion of molesting a 6-year-old girl who is a family member, police said Friday.

Eduardo Arturo Serrano, a 56-year-old teacher with the Chula Vista Elementary School District, was arrested Thursday night at his Chula Vista home.

Detectives began investigating early this week after the girl, who was not a student of Serrano's, reported the assault to her mother, said police spokesman Bernard Gonzales.

The girl said the assault occurred late last week at Serrano's home, police said. The date and time were not released.

Police are investigating a second allegation of molestation that may have involved a victim where he previously worked, Gonzales said. The second alleged victim is not a relative.

Serrano was most recently assigned to teach fifth grade at Valle Lindo Elementary School on Oleander Avenue near Orange Avenue. He had been teaching at the school for nearly two years, said Anthony Millican, a school district spokesman.

Serrano has been with the school district since 2003. He previously taught at John J. Montgomery Elementary School on Fourth Avenue near Montgomery Street.

Millican said he has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.

Valle Lindo Elementary School is not in session because of the summer vacation. Millican said the district is preparing letters to inform parents at the school about the arrest. He declined to comment further, citing the police investigation.

Serrano was booked into the Chula Vista jail on one count of child molestation and one count of lewd conduct with a child. He is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.